Victoria Falls fined for abuse

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has completed an investigation into Victoria Falls, a nursing home in Andover, in response to allegations of resident abuse.

Staff Report

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has completed an investigation into Victoria Falls, a nursing home in Andover, in response to allegations of resident abuse.

The agency’s investigation substantiated a number of allegations involving staff members committing acts of abuse and neglect targeting at least one resident receiving care at Victoria Falls. In addition, KDADS cited the facility for failing to meeting certain other regulations, including a requirement to investigate and self-report to the state allegations or complaints of abuse and neglect, and a requirement that such facilities ensure individual residents are protected during such investigations.

“This agency does not tolerate abuse or neglect of our nursing home residents. The failure to report these incidents warrants ongoing penalties until the facility is back in full compliance with all regulations,” KDADS Secretary Shawn Sullivan said. “We believe in this case there was willful intent not to report allegations of abuse to KDADS.”

During one inspection, the facility reported a census of 63 residents. The 27 residents selected for review on that occasion included four reviewed specifically for potential abuse. Based on observation, interviews and case record reviews, the facility was found to have failed to ensure two of the four residents reviewed for abuse remained free from verbal and physical abuse. This included one individual who was repeatedly abused verbally and physically by at least four staff members, all of whom were assigned to work in the facility’s four nursing areas, with all of the residents of the facility, from at least Sept. 1, 2013 through April 10, 2014. The inspector determined this had placed all 63 of the facility’s residents in immediate jeopardy. Another resident was found to have been repeatedly abused verbally and physically by a fellow resident, whom the staff left in place as the victim’s roommate after an initial resident-to-resident altercation.

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has announced it is fining Victoria Falls $8,200 per day from March 26 (the day KDADS staff entered and informed the facility’s management of the abuse allegations) through April 13, for a total of $155,800 and $1,000 a day thereafter until the facility is back in compliance. The facility has a right to appeal these findings and fines.